Paralympics 2024: Paul Karabardak first Welsh athlete to claim Paris medal with Para-table tennis bronze

Para-table tennis player Paul Karabardak became the first Welsh competitor to win a medal at Paris 2024 after taking bronze with doubles teammate Billy Shilton.

It was bitter-sweet for the ParalympicsGB pair after losing in their men’s doubles MD14 semi-final.

They lost in straight games to Thailand’s pairing, 11-9 11-9 11-7, and with no bronze medal match it means both losing semi-finalists take a place on the podium.

Karabardak said: “I’m disappointed after the loss, but on reflection I’ve got to be happy with the bronze because I know how hard it is to win Paralympic medals.

“I think maybe we could have done a bit better and maybe progressed a bit further and got a better colour, but I think overall, me and Billy played some great stuff and we can be really pleased with our performance and hard-earned bronze medal.

“It was a really special atmosphere. I mean, table tennis is so big in France, so to play in front of a crowd like that, in an atmosphere like that, is really amazing and just really special to see the fans enjoying it.

“To be able to play in an atmosphere (like that) and also having my family out here is really special as well, because they haven’t been able to see me play in a big competition since London 2012, so it’s nice for them to be able to watch me play again.

Karabardak has a chance of another medal when he plays in the singles.

“I’m really excited to play the singles,” he said.

“I think I’m playing well and if I can try and take that form into the singles, I think it’s going to be difficult, but I think anything’s possible and I’ll just try my best and enjoy myself and see what happens, really.

But I think if I play well, I could get some positive results in the singles as well which would be really good.”